Mail container with contaminant indicator

ABSTRACT

The mail container with contaminant indicator includes a mail container that includes a transparent window provided in the mailing container for allowing a mail recipient to verify that the mail container is free from particulate contaminates such as powders, granules, particles, etc.

CONTINUATION HISTORY

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 10/044,755 filed on Oct. 23, 2001, which is hereby incorporatedby reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to mail containers such as envelopes,mailing tubes, boxes, etc, and more particularly to a mail containerwith contaminant indicator that includes a transparent window providedalong a perimeter edge of the mailing container for allowing a mailrecipient to verify that the mail container is free from particulatecontaminates such as powders, granules, particles, etc.

The threat of receiving biologically contaminated mail has increased dueto the increasing use of terrorist tactics by groups and individualsseeking to further their political agendas. Because virtually everyonereceives mail is subject to such threats, it would be a benefit,particularly to advertisers and companies seeking to send legitimatecorrespondence, packages and the like to have a mail container with acontaminant indicator that could be used by legitimate individuals andcompanies which would provide the recipient of mail items with amechanism for verifying the mail item received does not contain abiological hazard in the form of a loose particulate such as powders,granules, and the like. As used herein the term “mail” is used toencompass items delivered by the United States Postal Service as well asother well known express shipping companies that deliver overnightletters, parcels, and other packages.

In order to attract the attention of the mail recipient that particulatematter may be contained in a mail container, it would be a furtherbenefit to have a mail container that included a quantity ofsubstantially clear adhesive on only a portion of one or more of thetransparent perimeter edge viewing windows so that the mail recipient ordelivery person could immediately identify the existence of particulatematter contamination. Because persons unfamiliar with the mail containerof the invention might not understand its operation, it would be a stillfurther benefit if a quantity of substantially clear, adhesive wasdeposited on only a portion of a number of in-line transparent perimeteredge viewing windows wherein each window had adhesive shaped in theshape of a letter such that should particulate contaminates becomeattached to the adhesive, a warning message, such as the word “DANGER”or “WARNING” would be visible in such a window of the mail container.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

One object of the invention is to provide mail container withcontaminant indicator that includes a transparent window provided alonga perimeter edge of the mailing container for allowing a mail recipientto verify that the mail container is free from particulate contaminatessuch as powders, granules, particles, etc.

Another object of this invention is to provide a mail container withviewing openings for allowing a mail recipient to verify that the mailcontainer is free from particular contaminants such as powders,granules, particles, etc.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a mail container asabove which conforms to postal regulations.

Other objects and advantages of this invention shall become apparentfrom the ensuing descriptions of the invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, a mail container with contaminantindicator is provided. The mail container with contaminant indicatorincludes a mail container that includes a transparent window in themailing container for allowing a mail recipient to verify that the mailcontainer is free from particulate contaminates such as powders,granules, particles, etc.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings illustrate an embodiment of this invention.However, it is to be understood that this embodiment is intended to beneither exhaustive, nor limiting of the invention. They are but examplesof some of the forms in which the invention may be practiced.

FIG. 1 is a front plan view of an exemplary embodiment of the mailcontainer with contaminant indicator of the present invention in theform of a legal size envelope.

FIG. 2 is a back plan view of the mail container with contaminantindicator of FIG. 1 with the mail item insertion flap in the openposition.

FIG. 3 is plan view of a die-cut paper blank used to form the envelopeof FIGS. 1 and 2 showing the contaminant viewing holes cut out alongwhat will form the perimeter edges of the envelope and the crease linesalong which the blank is folded to from the envelope seen in FIGS. 1 and2.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the die-cut blank of FIG. 3 showing areas ofconstruction adhesive, four clear plastic hole cover strips eachpermanently affixed to the paper blank in a manner to sealing cover anumber of the contaminant viewing holes; a section of each of the coverstrip covering each hole having a quantity of transparent, restickableadhesive provided thereon for trapping contaminants in particulate form,such as powders, granules, etc.

FIG. 5 is a partial plan view of a bottom edge of a second exemplarymail container with contaminant indicator of the present invention inthe form of a box having a bottom edge provided with six contaminantviewing holes formed through a bottom front edge wherein the contaminantviewing holes are sealing covered with a transparent plastic cover; eachtransparent cover having a quantity of transparent, restickable adhesiveprovided thereon for trapping contaminants in particulate form, such aspowders, granules etc. that are deposited onto the plastic cover in amanner to spell out the message “DANGER” to a mail recipient shouldparticulate contaminants adhere to the adhesive areas.

FIG. 6 is the rear of an alternate embodiment of the mail container.

FIG. 7 is the front of an alternate embodiment of the mail container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Without any intent to limit the scope of this invention, reference ismade to the figures in describing the various embodiments of theinvention. FIGS. 1-5 show various aspects of exemplary embodiments ofthe mail container with contaminant indicator of the present inventiongenerally designated 10,10 a.

Mail container with contaminant indicator 10 is a legal sized envelope,generally designated 12, is formed from a die-cut paper blank, generallydesignated 14 (FIGS. 3,4) having contaminant viewing holes, generallydesignated 16, cut out across crease lines 18 along what will form theperimeter edges 20 of the envelope 12. Four clear plastic hole coverstrips 38 a-d are each permanently affixed to the paper blank 14 in amanner to sealing cover a number of the contaminant viewing holes 16such that all the contaminant viewing holes 16 are sealed.

In this embodiment, one half of each section of plastic hole cover strip38 a-d covering each contaminant viewing hole 16 has an adhesive area 42having a quantity of transparent, restickable adhesive provided thereonfor trapping particulate contaminants for ready viewing by the mailcontainer recipient. Restickable adhesive is used to prevent mail itemsfrom being damaged by adhesion to the adhesive areas 42.

FIG. 5 shows a portion of a second exemplary mail container 10 a in theform of a box 10 a having a forward bottom edge 50 provided with sixcontaminant viewing holes 16 formed through forward bottom edge 50wherein the contaminant viewing holes 16 are sealing covered with atransparent plastic cover 54 and each transparent cover 54 has anadhesive area 42 shaped in the form of a letter having a quantity oftransparent, restickable adhesive provided thereon for trappingcontaminants in particulate form, such as powders, granules etc. thatare deposited onto the plastic cover in a manner to spell out themessage “DANGER” to a mail recipient should particulate contaminantsadhere to the adhesive areas 42.

In order to comply with mail system specifications and manufacturer'stooling requirements, another embodiment of the mail container withcontaminant indicator is possible. Using a “#10” envelope 101, aplurality, (in this exemplary embodiment, four), approximatelyone-eighth inch top ridge holes 102 are configured at the top ofenvelope 101, at approximately one inch spacing, and about two inchesfrom either side of envelope 101. Further, there is at least one sideview hole 103 on at least one side of envelope 101, approximately in themiddle between the top and bottom edges of envelope 101 facing thefront. There are a plurality (in this exemplary embodiment, three)bottom ridge holes 104 at the bottom edge of envelope 101 facing thefront, two of them starting two inches from the bottom left side edge ofenvelope 101 and about one-eighth inch in width, separated by one inchfrom one another. The last of three bottom ridge holes 104 is separatedfrom first two bottom ridge holes 104 by about five and one-half inchesand is about one inch from the bottom right side of the edge of envelope101, allotting space for bar code imprinting for mail sorting, etc.

There is further at least one large plastic-covered window 105 on thefront of envelope 101 about one and one-quarter inches wide and six andone-half inches long starting about one and one-half inches from the topedge of envelope 101 and about two inches from the top edge of envelope101 and seven-eighths of an inch from the bottom edge of envelope 101.Large window 105 can also have adhesive operatively affixed to the innerside of itself, such that contaminant matter will adhere to suchadhesive, making it obvious that the envelope contains suchcontaminants. This adhesive can be applied to large window 105 to spellout words, or give any other indication, such as an exclamation point, astop sign, or the like.

At least one plastic-covered window 106 (in this embodiment, two arepictured) on the back of the envelope are one-quarter inch by six andthree-quarters inches in length, separated one-half inch apart from eachother. Each window 106 starts about one and one-half inches from theright and left side edges of envelope 101 with a flap fold on the backof envelope 101. Similar to large window 105, this window can haveadhesive operatively affixed to the plastic in order to spell out orotherwise indicate the presence of a contaminant that would adhere tosuch adhesive.

Finally, this embodiment has at least one side slit 107 on each side endedge about two inches vertically of the envelope that is hidden from theactual plain eye view of the prospective user. Such slits 107 are notrequired to be covered in plastic, but can be if the application callsfor such.

It can be seen from the preceding description that mail container withcontaminant indicator has been provided.

It is noted that the embodiment of the mail container with contaminantindicator described herein in detail for exemplary purposes is of coursesubject to many different variations in structure, design, applicationand methodology.

Because many varying and different embodiments may be made within thescope of the inventive concept(s) herein taught, and because manymodifications may be made in the embodiment herein detailed inaccordance with the descriptive requirements of the law, it is to beunderstood that the details herein are to be interpreted as illustrativeand not in a limiting sense.

Although only a few exemplary embodiments of this invention have beendescribed in detail above, those skilled in the art will readilyappreciate that many modifications are possible in the exemplaryembodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings andadvantages of this invention. Accordingly, all such modifications areintended to be included within the scope of this invention as defined inthe following claims.

1. A mail container with contaminant indicator comprising: a. a frontside and a back side; b. a top edge, bottom edge, left edge and rightedge; c. a substantially clear viewing window in said front side of saidmail container; d. at least one substantially clear viewing slit on saidback side of said mail container; e. at least one hole near the top edgeof said front side of said mail container and extending through entirebody of said mail container; f. at least one side slit located in atleast one from the group selected of the left and right sides of saidenvelope; g. at least one hole near at least one of said left and rightedges of said front side of said mail container and extending throughentire body of said mail container; and h. a plurality of holes nearsaid bottom edge of said front side of said mail container extendingthrough entire body of said mail container, leaving a substantiallyclear portion of said bottom edge for bar encoding by a postal service.2. The mail container of claim 1 further comprising a quantity ofsubstantially transparent adhesive operatively attached to said plasticwindow in order to provide an indicator of any contaminant placed withinsaid mail container.
 3. The mail container of claim 1 further comprisinga quantity of substantially transparent adhesive operatively attached toat least one of said slits in order to provide an indicator of anycontaminant placed within said mail container.
 4. A mail container withcontaminant indicator comprising: a. a front side and a back side; b. atop edge, bottom edge, left edge and right edge; c. at least onesubstantially clear viewing window in at least one of the front and backsides of said mail container; d. at least one hole near the top edge ofsaid front side of said mail container and extending through entire bodyof said mail container; e. at least one side slit located in at leastone from the group selected of the left and right sides of saidenvelope; f. at least one hole near at least one of said left and rightedges of said front side of said mail container and extending throughentire body of said mail container; and g. a plurality of holes nearsaid bottom edge of said front side of said mail container extendingthrough entire body of said mail container, leaving a substantiallyclear portion of said bottom edge for bar encoding by a postal service.5. The mail container of claim 4 further comprising a quantity ofsubstantially transparent adhesive operatively attached to said plasticwindow in order to provide an indicator of any contaminant placed withinsaid mail container.
 6. The mail container of claim 4 further comprisinga quantity of substantially transparent adhesive operatively attached toat least one of said slits in order to provide an indicator of anycontaminant placed within said mail container.
 7. A mail container withcontaminant indicator comprising: a. a front side and a back side; b. atop edge, bottom edge, left edge and right edge; c. a substantiallyclear viewing window in said front side of said mail container; d. twoviewing slits on said back side of said mail container; e. four holesnear the top edge of said front side of said mail container andextending through entire body of said mail container; f. one side slitlocated the left and right sides of said envelope; g. one hole near saidleft and right edges of said front side of said mail container andextending through entire body of said mail container; and h. three holesnear said bottom edge of said front side of said mail containerextending through entire body of said mail container, leaving asubstantially clear portion of said bottom edge for bar encoding by apostal service.
 8. The mail container of claim 7 further comprising aquantity of substantially transparent adhesive operatively attached tosaid plastic window in order to provide an indicator of any contaminantplaced within said mail container.
 9. The mail container of claim 7further comprising a quantity of substantially transparent adhesiveoperatively attached to at least one of said slits in order to providean indicator of any contaminant placed within said mail container.